Lectroject Herpes Device ‘Could Hold The Key’ To Treating HIV

Lectroject (www.lectroject.com), an innovative, clinically tested device for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of current FDA approved antivirals, could pave the way for more effective treatment of serious DNA and RNA infections, such as HIV, as research and development into alternative uses of the product continues.

(4 December 2008) - - The Lectroject (www.lectroject.com), a revolutionary device for administering traditional herpes treatments in a more efficient manner, could ultimately help tackle HIV, according to its creator Dr. Keith Maxwell.

Designed to deliver higher dosages of acyclovir (the active substance available in current OTC HSV-1 “coldsore” and HSV-2 “genital herpes” treatments) in a more efficient way, Dr. Maxwell believes the near future could hold developments in the treatment of HIV and other serious viral infections.

Acyclovir cream enters the body through two electrodes, which are applied either to the wrists or to the top and bottom of the spine, depending on whether the patient is looking to treat oral or genital herpes.

The Lectroject device relies on iontophoresis, a particle transport technology allowing 100 times the traditional dosage of acyclovir to be delivered to the entire body, affecting the DNA of the virus to prevent its spread. By attacking the virus which lies dormant in nerve cells, the Lectroject actively flushes out the virus and kills it, thus preventing future outbreaks – a process currently not possible with oral pills and topical creams.

Dr. Maxwell, a renowned Virologist and Biophysicist, has suggested that the Lectroject method of treating the herpes virus could be applied to the treatment of more serious infections, such as HIV – a proposition that will form the basis of research and development going forward.

“We recently found that with acyclovir induced through Lectroject, it is now possible to reach and flush out, or “wake up”, the dormant herpes virus and then kill it.”

“I foresee initially taking a cocktail of acyclovir and current HIV treatments. We’ll put that through the system as we currently do with the acyclovir and see what happens,” said Dr. Maxwell.

“This will take many more years of testing and research. The treatment of RNA viruses is very different from that of DNA viruses. It’s very important when treating RNA viruses not to destroy the cell.”

According to cutting edge research work from Lectroject, iontophoresis may be able to treat and ultimately eliminate both the HSV-1 and HSV-2 viruses completely, simply by refining the means of administering treatment.

About:

Lectroject (www.lectroject.com) is a clinically tested device, designed to treat the herpes virus more effectively than current treatment methods. Using an innovative, more effective method of administering current treatments, Lectroject allows acyclovir to reach any cell in the body to alter the DNA of both herpes viruses, with the potential to completely eradicate the HSV-1 and HSV-2 virus from those receiving treatment through the device.